The Grade II-listed Tobacco Warehouse in Liverpool’s Stanley Dock could become the city’s next residential hotspot.

Darmody Architecture has submitted plans to transform the 1900 structure, one of the world’s biggest brick buildings, into 538 apartments.

‘The Tobacco Warehouse is a key landmark in this part of the city and is considered to be a significant component in the World Heritage Site, as well as being the linchpin for the Stanley Dock Conservation Area,’ the practice says in its planning application.

‘Sadly the Tobacco Warehouse has suffered from neglect since it ceased to have any beneficial use in the last quarter of the 20th century, and the building has suffered a decline in condition.’

In addition to the apartments, Darmody is proposing a 1,750 sq m exhibition space and more than 4,000 sq m of offices.

Adds the firm: ‘The regeneration of the Tobacco Warehouse at Stanley Dock therefore presents an opportunity not only to save this key heritage asset, but also to act as key instigator in the regeneration of the area.’